Android Emulation Powerhouse: How the iQOO 15 is Outperforming the Steam Deck in PS3 Gaming

The last-gen Android flagship phone was able to emulate the tested games better. Pictured: God of War 3 being emulated on an smartphone (edited).

The dream of playing PlayStation 3 games on the go has never been more alive. While PC emulation has matured significantly—with RPCS3 now supporting roughly 78% of the entire PS3 library—the mobile scene is undergoing a revolution of its own. Thanks to advancements like the ARMSX3 emulator, Android devices are no longer just playing catch-up; they are setting new benchmarks.

A fascinating new comparison has emerged, and the results are nothing short of surprising. It turns out that a last-gen flagship Android phone can actually run PS3 titles smoother than Valve’s highly acclaimed Steam Deck.

The Contenders: iQOO 15 vs. Steam Deck

In a detailed test conducted by YouTuber Tanbenru, the iQOO 15 was pitted against the Steam Deck to see which device could handle the complex architecture of PS3 emulation better.

For those looking to replicate this performance, the iQOO 15 (16/512GB) is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. You can check out the device specs and current pricing here via TradingShenzhen . On the software side, the phone utilized the ARMSX3 emulator (version 0.9.8.2) paired with the Turnip Gen8 v36 driver.

The challenger, the Steam Deck, was running SteamOS 3.8.16 alongside the standard PC version of RPCS3 (0.0.41).

The Results: A Clear Victory for Snapdragon

The performance gap between these two devices is wider than many might expect. Here is how the games stacked up:

God of War 3: This is a notoriously heavy title. At 100% resolution scale and 720p, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 phone managed to hold an average of 43 FPS. The Steam Deck struggled significantly, averaging only 29 FPS, with frequent dips below 20 FPS that would result in noticeable stutter.
Gran Turismo 5: Racing games demand consistency. The Steam Deck hovered around a choppy 26 FPS. The iQOO 15, however, maintained a smooth 52 FPS average with no major dips, making it the definitive way to play this racer on the go.
Infamous 2, Uncharted 1, and Midnight Club: Los Angeles: The story remained the same across these titles. While neither device offered a perfect "locked" experience in every scenario, the Android phone consistently outperformed the Steam Deck in frame stability and playability.
God of War: Ascension: In the final test, the gap widened again. The Android phone hit an average of 40 FPS, while the Steam Deck lagged behind at 21 FPS.

What This Means for Portable Gaming

It goes without saying that the Steam Deck is utilizing older, x86-based hardware, and newer Windows handhelds have already surpassed it in raw power. However, this comparison highlights a crucial shift in the mobile tech landscape.

We are reaching a point where flagship smartphones—specifically those utilizing the latest ARM chips like the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5—are becoming legitimate competitors for high-end gaming handhelds, at least in the emulation space. The efficiency of ARM architecture combined with the rapid development of emulators like ARMSX3 is bridging the gap between mobile hardware and complex console libraries.

For a deeper look at the frame rates and side-by-side gameplay, be sure to check out the full comparison video below:
Watch the Tanbenru Comparison Video

The takeaway is clear: if you have a modern flagship Android phone, you might already own a PS3 emulation beast that rivals dedicated gaming hardware.